In Rose's present state of bliss the question was like a cold shower. But there was no point in pretending she didn't know who her mother meant.

“Her name is Antoinette Landovich and Davy invited her,” Rose said. Then she added, “She's an old girlfriend of Bobby's.”

“ ‘Old’ as in she's not his girlfriend now?”

“Yes,” Rose said. Although when she thought about it she realized she still didn't know for sure.

“Is he sleeping with you?” Lu asked.

“Of course not.”

“If he isn't sleeping with you, he's having sex with someone else.”

“No he isn't,” she said. But did she believe that?

“George asked around about him,” Lu said. “Your Bobby Manning has quite a reputation.”

“People can change,” Rose said defiantly. But she couldn't look at her mother. “Sometimes… all it takes is the right person …”

“Could you change?”

“What do you mean?”

“Could you become the kind of woman who wouldn't care if a man cheated on you?”

“Bobby would never do that to me,” Rose said. She left the room before her mother could say another word.

*   *   *

THE NEXT DAY at Lindy's, before they had even ordered their cheesecake, Rose asked Bobby if she could read his musical, and if he'd play the songs for her. He opened the briefcase he always carried with him, handed her the manuscript, and told her he'd meet her at Hershemer's after the store closed for the day to play the score for her. And he didn't seem surprised.

Chapter 23 - New York 1962

ROSE STARTED READING Bobby's musical in the taxicab on her way home, and by the time she reached her mother's apartment she already knew what she thought about his talent as a writer and the book of his show. She went to Hershemer's to hear him play the score so she'd know if he was a good composer. Then she could tell him what he had to do next. How or why Rose thought she was capable of judging a Broadway musical was something she never stopped to question. She didn't wonder if she should be giving Bobby advice. She just knew that whatever she said would be right because she loved him. She had no doubt about that now that he'd kissed her. Of course, he still hadn't said he loved her—but he would. Because now it was her turn to prove herself to him. And God wouldn't let her make a mistake.

So Rose sat in a chair in Hershemer's grand lobby and listened intently while Bobby played his score. When he was finished, she breathed a sigh of relief. She'd hoped his music would be as good as the book he'd written, and it was. She'd been spared having to tell him he'd have to find a composer, and she was grateful. What she was going to say to him was going to be rough enough.